Big Ben set to strike for Dowson's No 8 berth ahead of Italy clash

When England escape the snow on Tuesday with a training trip to a former David Beckham football academy next to the O2 Arena, Ben Morgan will go head to head with Phil Dowson in a 15-a-side contest, with the No 8 shirt up for grabs.

Stuart Lancaster is taking his squad to the indoor facility at Greenwich, now known as the London Soccerdome, as the freezing conditions have played havoc with England’s preparations at their HQ in Surrey.

This will be the only full day of training prior to departure for Rome and the next instalment of the RBS Six Nations campaign, against Italy at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday, and for Morgan in particular, the stakes have just been raised.

Amid Monday’s painstaking review of the opening-weekend victory over Scotland at Murrayfield, which launched Lancaster’s tenure on a positive note, the interim head coach acknowledged that Morgan has emerged as a contender to start against the Azzurri.

The Scarlets rookie made a telling impact in the 12 or so minutes he was on the field in Edinburgh, after Dowson had suffered the odd nervous lapse in an otherwise hard-grafting debut performance.

The suspicion is Lancaster will keep any changes to a minimum for the second of back-to-back encounters before a fallow week, but he said enough to suggest Morgan is in the mix for an early promotion to the XV. ‘It is part of the selection dynamic going to this weekend,’ he said.

In contention: Ben Morgan is looking to get the nod to play against Italy

‘Part of the discussion over the two weeks has been about the back row. I was pleased with the balance and I thought all three of the starting back-rowers contributed in different areas. We were all pleased with Ben Morgan’s impact from the bench. He has taken a huge step to go from no representative rugby straight into the England side.

‘For him to come here and be involved as he has been — he is finding his feet quickly. We are pleased with the impact he made but also bear in mind the steps he’s taken. He has played well for the Scarlets in European games but not to have played any representative rugby before means he’s new to the whole affair.’

Raising the bar: Stuart Lancaster held a review into Saturday's win

Reflecting on the other back-row positions, starting with openside flanker, he added: ‘Chris Robshaw’s responsibility to lead the side did not affect his performance. He was our top tackler and our top carrier.

To do that on the back of captaining the side with one cap was a fantastic achievement. Tom Croft, whilst we didn’t have enough attacking ball to demonstrate what we are trying to achieve, there were one or two times when he carried.’

Lancaster was at pains to emphasise he will engender a spirit of genuine competition between players vying for starting places, to ensure selection is hard earned.

With that in mind, he revealed that today’s training would feature a 15-a-side contest, which should allow Morgan a chance to pit himself against Dowson, in the hope of usurping him.

‘Everyone has to work hard to keep the jersey, but new players coming in have no divine right to expect it easily,’ said the coach.

Fight for his place: Phil Dowson suffered a few nervous moments against Scotland

‘It’s when you get that competition and desire for the shirt that you really start to get high performance. Everyone has to train well. I take as much importance from how people conduct themselves in training during the week.

‘You make training competitive. That’s one of the things I’ve tried to do, certainly over the last two weeks.

For example, when we train tomorrow it will be 15 v 15. And I’ll try and make it so the players who are on the fringes or the bench get a genuine opportunity to play in training sessions that are competitive and allow them to show their skills, rather than just give them a bib and tell them to be a defender.’

Leicester fly-half Toby Flood will be one of those taking part, with a view to showing he is ready for a return after proving his recovery from injury with a comeback appearance for the Tigers.

Training base: England will train at the London Soccerdome which used to be the David Beckham Academy

However, the initial indications from Lancaster were that the man who kept Jonny Wilkinson out of the England team for so long in the build-up to the last World Cup will have to bide his time, with Charlie Hodgson likely to be retained in the No 10 shirt after his match- winning Murrayfield contribution.

The coach is mindful of the danger of even the merest hint of complacency derailing his team this weekend against an Italy side who lost 30-12 against France in Paris last Saturday. He has already addressed that issue head-on.

‘We’re not under any illusions,’ he said. ‘We must do things better. There’s more to come, absolutely. Great teams have consistency and we have to improve our level of performance this weekend.

‘Italy played exceptionally well for long periods against France. They kept the ball and attacked. Ally that to their set piece and the strength they have got in their pack and a more organised defensive system and they are going to be a huge challenge.’